Police probe fourth supermarket ram raid attack

Darren Burke

A supermarket has been attacked with a mechanical digger overnight in a fresh ram raid incident.

The Tesco Express store at Crowle was targeted in the early hours of this morning and comes days after a Tesco store was attacked at Hatfield.

It is believed the raiders used the digger to remove the cash machine from the building in the centre of the town before making their escape.

Cash machines have also been stolen from shops and convenience stores in Blyth and Epworth in recent weeks.

The scene is currently sealed off by police following the attack at around 4.30am.

A spokesman for Tesco said: “We’re glad no-one was hurt in this incident and were shocked to hear about it.

“We’ll be working closely with the police to support their investigation and working hard to ensure our store is open again for customers as soon as possible.”

Posting on Facebook, Paul Jackson wrote: “Looks like another cash machine gone,” while Stew Brears wrote: “I heard a loud noise at 4.30am but couldn’t see anything and there were no noises afterwards.”

Matty Johnson posted: “Its like a carbon copy of what I saw in Hatfield.”

On Wednesday, a cash machine was ripped out of a wall at the Tesco Express in Station Road, Hatfield using a ‘piece of machinery’ that was later abandoned.

It comes after two similar incidents in Epworth and Blyth last month, when stolen heavy diggers were used to steal cash machines.

Police said it was too early to know whether all four incidents were linked.

Anyone with information about the Crowle attack, should call Humberside Police on 101, quoting incident 113 of January 31.